Andrade trades clubs for headset, microphone

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Chris Condon/PGA TOUR

Four-time PGA TOUR winner Billy Andrade is taking a break from playing to be a TV analyst.

Under normal circumstances Billy Andrade would be looking forward to emerging from the grand clubhouse at Riviera Country Club, walking across the path to the first tee and surveying the scene in the fairway far below. But this is not a typical season for Andrade, who has traded in his driver for a microphone.

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Andrade, a four-time winner on the PGA TOUR, isn't in the field this week at Riviera. He has decided to put away his clubs for most of the season and point his career in a different direction. The Wake Forest graduate has opted to spend most of this year working as an announcer for GOLF Channel, where he's signed on to work 15 tournaments, 10 PGA TOUR events and five Champions Tour events.

Andrade will spend time at some tournaments in the tower and some time as an on-course reporter. He'll also likely bring a breath of freshness to the telecast.

"I've been looking forward to trying it out," said Andrade, who received a test under fire last summer when he helped cover the Walker Cup Matches.

His debut for GOLF Channel came at the Bob Hope Classic, an event in which he had competed many times, which may have given him additional insight when a question was thrown his way.

"I think I bring some value to the broadcast," Andrade said. "I'm still young -- I feel like I'm a young 46 -- and I'm still playing. I'll try to be creative and get across my point."

Andrade has earned a reputation as one of the nice guys on the TOUR. He's glib, gracious and able to relate a story. He's one of those guys who you'd like to spend a few hours with on the golf course -- or watching golf on the television. It will be interesting to see how his role with GOLF Channel evolves.

"It's always something I've been interested in," said Andrade, who filled in for Judy Rankin one year at the TOUR Championship at East Lake. "I've been around TV a lot, helping out whenever I got the chance."

Andrade has done a lot of soul searching over the last two years, as the quality of his game slipped. In 2007 he dropped to No. 150 on the money list, the first time he had finished out of the top 125. The fall was even more dramatic in 2008 when he was No. 193. In 2009 he earned only a little more than $19,000 and was No. 242 in money after he made the cut in only two of 17 starts. His last top-10 came in the summer of 2006.

"I had to face the facts that I haven't played up to my standards," Andrade said. "You've got to make the decision whether to go back all-in this point or take a step back and change career paths. I'll tell you, it's not a lot of fun when (you) struggle. Life isn't a whole lot of fun."

Andrade was disappointed in the quality of his play, which had been consistent for many years, but he always had options. He dipped his toe into course design, helping architect Bob Cupp complete a renovation of Atlanta's venerable Capital City Club.

Andrade continued to work diligently with his buddy Brad Faxon to raise money for charities. Last month the Andrade-Faxon Charities for Children distributed a record $321,135 to 52 organizations. Their annual CVS Charity Classic generated most of the funds, which go to child-related charities in their native Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.

And while he'd rather be playing, the television gig allows him the opportunity to still be around the game he loves and spend time with his family. Andrade's son, Cameron, is in the ninth grade and his daughter, Grace, is in the seventh grade. Plus, wife Jody has returned to school.

"It's a perfect time to spend more time with my family and still be involved with the game," he said. "And this was the first fall were I haven't had to think about what I need to do to get better. I kind of enjoyed that."

And he's got a nice window to decide if he wants to eventually play on the Champions Tour. Regardless, he feels satisfied with his accomplishments.

"I was out there for 22 years," he said. "I have no regrets. I've had a nice career."

Agreed. Now, can you tell us how Lucas Glover's putt is going to break?

Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.